A powerful and, at times, shocking story of the evil that governments can do, even when the intentions are nothing but good. Although the specific case written about here is not ‘true’, it is indicative of many, many cases in US history where women have been misled on the subject of their reproductive rights - especially women who are poor or of colour.

The book doesn’t reach for any easy answers and Civil, the main character, has to face her own mistakes in trying to ‘save’ the Williams family. It raises important questions on mental capacity, choice and the ‘othering’ of people who should still have a voice.

This book was stunning.

Take My Hand follows a young black nurse who fights to protect two young and mistreated black girls from a system that harms them under the false impression of helping.
Based on true events during 1970s America, Dolen Perking-Valdez creates a rich and compelling story, filled with incredible characters that I grew so attached to.
The writing is immersive and addictive, and it sheds light on an area of history which I'd never heard anything about before.
Touching, informative and unflinching in its honesty. I absolutely loved this book and will definitely read more from this author.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a powerful historical fiction novel set in 1970s Alabama. It follows the story of Civil Rights activist and nurse, Civil Rights, as she fights for justice for young Black women who were coerced into sterilization procedures. It's a moving and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it especially as this story was new to me. Highly recommend.

Very important book with important conversations. Well written and even though some hard topics, easy to read.

Set in the 70's in Alabama, this book, which is based on real events follows a young Black nurse as she begins her career in a family planning clinic and uncovers the horrendous way that the medical industry exploited the poor and Black communities.

This was devastating to read, but Valdez did an amazing job of using her central character to highlight this traumatic part of US history whilst also focusing on the love, hope, determination and power that these communities held.

This was a stunning novel with such beautifully rich characters and one that kept you turning the page from beginning to end. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.

An incredibly powerful book which covers an ugly truth in America’s history. I enjoyed the characters and the search for justice. Thanks for letting me review this book!

Oh wow! This book! I loved it!
It tells the story of Civil, a young nurse who works in a family planning clinic. During the course of her work she meets two sister and their family. Over the course of a year she becomes part of the family but the girls experience something awful and Civil feels responsible so makes it her mission to get justice.
I couldn’t get enough of this book and was genuinely sad when it was over. I can’t recommend it enough.

Brilliantly immersive, utterly compelling, and truly shocking. Erica and India's story is something I won't forget for a very long time.

Even though this book is set in the 1970's, it is such a timely and important read in the wake of Roe V Wade and all the discussions on female autonomy.
Based on true events, we follow Civil, straight out of nursing college and into her first job at a family planning clinic. This is Alabama and Civil wants to make a difference in her community and give the people the best possible care. But her eyes are opened in her first week when she is sent to do home visits to the William's family.
Living in a shack on the grounds of a white man's farm, the William's are in rags and haven't washed in weeks. The girls, India and Erica are only 11 and 13 but are on birth control. They have no interest in boys, but the decision has been taken out of their hands. Because they are poor and black, the clinic have decided there is no way they should be bringing babies into the world.
Civil is shocked and angry at what she discovers and things are only going to get worse.

This story was beautifully told and I loved the characters especially the girls. You felt the anger and the rage and the quest to fight for their rights. This is an awful part of American history I knew nothing about. Thousands of men, women and children of colour were forcibly sterilized. Informative and moving, such an important read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC to review. This book is a show-stopper. Absolutely beautiful and very moving.

This book was an eye opener for me, and one which I would recommend to people for this reason alone.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This book is quite unlike any historical fiction book I have read before.
It centres around a newly qualified nurse who gets a job at a family planning clinic and who realises two young girl patients of hers are being given contraception (and are later permanently sterilised) despite one of then not even reaching puberty and neither are sexually active. The girls are just 11 and 13 years old.
The incredulity I felt reading the Williams' story was just staggering. The fact this was happening all over America long before the nurse Civil was able to raise awareness and halt the sterilisation programme is mind-blowing to me, and Dolen Perkins-Valdez does an incredible job of portraying the injustices through the story. I spent most of the book shaking my head in disbelief with tears in my eyes and my heart in a vice.
This book will stay with me forever

A heartbreaking but brilliant read that will stay with you long after you read it. The book is incredibly moving and is unputdownable . It has so hard to imagine that this book is loosely based on a true story and highlights horrendous injustices. Don't miss this book as it is superb.

Take My Hand is a shocking and heart-breaking read that leaves a profound effect on the reader. It's a story you become fully immersed in and stays with you long after you've read it.

This was easily one of the best books I've read this year. The story is incredibly well paced, and based in real, horrific history. As I was reading this book, I was constantly googling things like Missisippi Appendectomies or the Tuskegee experiment. Aside from being a brilliant story, it's an eye opening book that's so important and necessary. The history of Black people and medical racism is awful and should never be forgotten - Perkins Valdez manages to keep our eyes open with her wonderful story and characters.

I adored this book! I was able to participate in an online chat with the author through my book club and was fascinated by her story about how she put this book together. As well as being a very important story about a landmark moment in American history, this is a powerful novel about standing up for what is right, I don't want to say too much about it. Do what I did and go in blind - you won't be sorry! One of my favourite reads this year by far. Highly recommended!

Absolutely phenomenal, heartbreaking and vital to read. Dolen Perkins-Valdez has shone a light on an utterly disgusting corner of social history which was still occurring far too recently. Take My Hand is inspired by true events

In 1973 Alabama, Civil Townsend is a newly qualified nurse, keen to help women make their own choices in family planning. But she soon comes across two young teenage sisters who are being treated against their will, at just 11 and 13. The state has determined that the best thing for poor Black girls is to be on birth control whether they need it or not; or in other words, eugenics.

The tale is marvellously written and utterly devastating, an honour to read it and a tragedy that it needed to be written.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book and found it incredibly moving. I was unaware of the issues around women's bodies and racism, and feel it should be an essential text in schools! The characters were beautifully crafted and the story was heartbreaking at times.
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for my copy of this novel.

Firstly, thank you to Ericka @_pagesandleaves who organised a great buddy read which was much needed given the subject matter.

Inspired by true events, this story send us to Alabama in the 1970s and follows Civil Townsend who starts working at her local Family Planning Clinic.

It’s one I’ve put off writing a review about as it is so hard to do it justice but I found it really compelling and so informative at the same time. The courage and resilience that these characters went through was incredible. Heartbreaking too for these girls whose lives were changed forever…
I had never heard of these monstrosities but The Underground Railroad did mention some that were done to Black men during the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and it would make your blood boil…

A buddy reader in the group also mentioned Henrietta Lacks on a similar topic and it sounds so good. I look forward to listening to it once I’m finished my current audio which is putting me in a right slump…

Thank you to @netgalley and @orionbooks for the ARC in return for my honest review. Take My Hand is out now. Highly recommend !